There are a number of supports in place for long term and older carers in relation to State Pension.
Persons in receipt of carer’s benefit/allowance from my Department may be entitled to credited contributions. Such contributions are intended to protect the entitlements of people when they are ill, unemployed and for pensions. Carers who qualify for these credits are awarded credited contributions on the same basis as if they were out of the workforce due to illness or unemployment.
Those who are not entitled to credited contributions, can if eligible, avail of the homemaker’s scheme. The scheme was introduced in 1994, and allows up to 20 years spent caring to be disregarded when a person’s social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes. It impacts on women in particular as it assists them to qualify for a State Pension (contributory) by recognising periods spent caring for children or incapacitated persons.
In addition, further supports continue to be made available to older carers in the form of the household benefits package and the free travel pass.
